Eggplant is a delicious vegetable that grows easily in many different climates. It thrives in hot, humid summers and can produce dozens of pounds of eggplant in a single season. The fruit is sometimes prone to pest infestation, making it an excellent candidate for companion planting methods. Let's talk more about eggplant companion plants that will help make them grow better.
There are many different benefits to planting different plants near eggplant. Some herbs can repel pests, while other plants receive the same care as eggplants. As you attract pollinators, you may get more fruit. Growing eggplants is easy when you get help from accompanying plants.
Let's examine the benefits of companion planting and which plants you might want to plant or avoid to plant your eggplant!
What is companion planting?
Do you need good neighbors for your eggplant? There are many eggplant companion plants to choose from! Source: NellieMcS
Planting companions in the garden is both an ancient art form and a modern science. Some plants emit chemicals or signals that can disrupt or increase the growth of their neighbors. Others act as "trap" crops, attracting pests to feed on their leaves while protecting your main plant. Some companion plants can help improve the health or taste of the plants by releasing natural chemicals into the soil.
Other reasons for companion planting include low-lying or groundcover plants that reduce weed and nutrient competition and shade the soil, plants that use other plants as trellises to grow, and tall plants that can provide shade for other more delicate plants. Certain plants such as legumes are known to fix nitrogen in the soil and are useful companions for heavy feed.
Some companion plants can attract pollinators, which will help pollinate the plants in the garden. This creates a better habitat that will help plants produce more fruit. It also saves space and helps maximize production. As science continues to show why companion planting works, many of these benefits continue to assist gardeners in growing their best crops.
Good aubergine companion plants
Some plants can reduce pest problems for your eggplant. Source: clifford.rohde
Now let's talk about which plants are good companion plants for eggplant!
First, there are herbs that can improve the taste of eggplants and protect them from pests. oregano can repel aphids, cabbage moths and spider mites because it smells strong. It also attracts beneficial insects like bees and ladybugs. You should plant thyme to deter garden moths with their scent and to protect your eggplants from aphids. French tarragon pulls away pests that would otherwise attack eggplants.
Many highly fragrant herbs will ward off insect attack and are great companions for eggplant, including rosemary, chamomile, lavender, sage, dill, marjoram, and Catnip. If you are planting catnip with eggplant, avoid planting it with peas and green beans, as catnip will negatively affect their growth and development.
Mints to like peppermint and green mint are both good types of companion plants to plant eggplants as they reduce the number of flea beetles. Remember, all mints can quickly become invasive if not kept in check!
Flowers can also be useful companions for eggplants. Marigolds attract a lot of pollinators, and their smell can scare off some harmful pests like flea beetles. Marigolds, Nasturtiums, Snapdragon, and sunflowers All of them deter aphids, whiteflies, flea beetles and ants and add beauty to your garden.
Nasturtiums can be planted around eggplants, both as a ground cover to prevent weeds from germinating, and as a trap fruit, as it can be sacrificed to insects instead of the eggplant itself. Aphids love nasturtiums, so growing nasturtium flowers with your eggplant can pull aphids away from your eggplant and towards the nasturtiums. Another flower Borageis a useful companion plant that attracts beneficial insects and repels worms.
Many leafy vegetables make excellent companion plants for eggplants, as eggplants are tall plants that can provide shade on hot days. spinach benefits from the shade of the eggplant and can form a ground cover to maintain soil moisture and suppress weeds.
Some plants can attract pollinators to your eggplant flowers. Source: Nostepinne
Edible ground covers are another way to grow more plants in a smaller space. Kohlrabi can deter aphids, flea beetles and cabbage beetles. Swiss chard and most low growing leafy vegetables, like Radish, can be planted near eggplants as accompanying vegetables.
Amaranth Also makes an excellent companion for eggplants, as they have similar growing conditions. However, give them plenty of room to grow and avoid throwing shadows on each other. Eggplants need full sun for optimal growth and flowering.
Growing Cabbage with eggplant, the flea beetle attracts cabbage, as they prefer the taste of the leaves over eggplants.
Like legumes Runner beans and French beans can be of great benefit to eggplants by taking nitrogen from the air and adding it to the soil. This increases the fertility of the soil.
Planting green beans (either French beans or poles of your choice) in the garden not only increases the fertility of your garden soil, but it can also repel Colorado potato beetles. Colorado beetles can feed on the leaves of your eggplant and make it difficult to grow. The Colorado beetle can also become tolerant of insecticides, so plants that deter this pest can make your eggplant harvest more successful. Just make sure your green beans don't shade the eggplants, which requires full sun as runner beans can get quite large.
lenses and Peas are also helpful for growing eggplants as they are part of the legume family and have nutrient-binding abilities similar to beans. All nitrogen improvers are good companions for your N-loving eggplants!
Eggplants belong to the nightshade family and can be planted with other nightshade plants because they have similar requirements. Popular nightshades to grow with eggplants include pepper, tomatoes, and Potatoes. It doesn't matter if it's hot peppers or mild peppers, both can grow nearby.
One disadvantage of growing together members of the same family is that pests attracted to one family member are likely to attack all other family members as well, so plants may be more susceptible to insect attack if planted with other members of the same family in the garden. Plants from the same family, such as B. tomatoes require similar nutrients from the soil. So make sure you have good crop rotation or fertilize regularly so that you don't deplete your soil over time.
What not to plant with eggplant
Do not plant fennel near your eggplant. Fennel inhibits the growth of many plants, including eggplants.
Geraniums can harbor diseases that also affect eggplants, such as leaf rot and root rot. Therefore, avoid planting eggplants on them.
You should also avoid heavy forage crops that will compete for nutrients with eggplant. For example, Corn and eggplant are both vegetables that need a lot of fertilizer. Corn isn't particularly harmful to eggplant, but you may not want to deplete the soil near your eggplant.
Also, avoid planting eggplant near allelopathic trees, such as black walnutwhich inhibits growth and germination underneath.
frequently asked Questions
Q: Can I plant tomatoes and eggplant together?
A: Yes! Tomatoes and eggplant both belong to the nightshade family and have similar growing requirements. Give them both plenty of space and plenty of compost or organic matter.
Q: Can I plant zucchini and eggplant together?
On a. Eggplants and zucchini are heavy feeds and compete for nutrients in the soil. While zucchini isn't a particularly harmful vegetable, it could shade the plant and is not the best choice.
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